According to Islamic doctrine, the world will end on the Last Day, a time marked by resurrection and divine judgment. This event isn't a singular cataclysm but a series of events leading to the ultimate accountability for all humanity.
The Signs of the Last Day
Islamic eschatology details specific signs that will precede the Day of Judgment. These signs are often divided into minor and major categories.
- Minor Signs: These are more frequent and subtle, including:
- The spread of ignorance.
- Increase in immorality.
- Loss of trust and integrity.
- Competition in building tall structures.
- Increase in natural disasters.
- Major Signs: These are more dramatic and definitive, signaling the imminent arrival of the Last Day. Some of the most prominent major signs include:
- The appearance of the Dajjal (Antichrist), a figure of immense deception and evil.
- The return of Jesus (Isa), who will defeat the Dajjal and establish justice.
- The emergence of Gog and Magog (Yajuj and Majuj), tribes of great corruption and destruction.
- The rising of the sun from the West.
- The appearance of a beast from the earth (Dabbat al-Ard) who will mark believers and disbelievers.
- Three major sinkings of the earth, one in the East, one in the West, and one in the Arabian Peninsula.
- A fire that will drive people to the place of gathering.
The Last Day: Resurrection and Judgment
Once all the signs have manifested, the angel Israfil will blow the trumpet, initiating the Day of Judgment.
- The First Trumpet: This blast will cause the death of all living beings.
- A Period of Time: There will be a period of time between the two trumpet blasts.
- The Second Trumpet: This blast will signal the resurrection of the dead. All humans, from the beginning of time, will be brought back to life.
Following the resurrection, everyone will be gathered before Allah (God) for judgment. Each person will be held accountable for their deeds performed during their life on Earth. A record of these deeds will be presented.
- The Weighing of Deeds (Mizan): Good and bad deeds will be weighed on a scale (Mizan).
- The Divine Judgment: Allah will judge each person based on their actions, intentions, and faith.
- Paradise (Jannah) and Hellfire (Jahannam): Those whose good deeds outweigh their bad deeds and who have believed in Allah will be rewarded with Paradise, a state of eternal bliss. Those whose bad deeds outweigh their good deeds and who have rejected Allah will be punished in Hellfire, a state of eternal suffering.
The Afterlife: Eternal Existence
The Day of Judgment marks the beginning of eternal life in either Paradise or Hellfire. These are not merely abstract concepts but real places of ultimate reward or punishment. The descriptions of Paradise and Hellfire in the Quran and Hadith serve as both incentives for good behavior and warnings against evil.
In conclusion, according to Islam, the world will end with a series of signs culminating in the resurrection of all humanity and a final judgment by God, leading to eternal life in Paradise or Hellfire.
